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Beverly Kills
Beverly Kilbourne has it all.
She’s beautiful, she’s popular, and she gets to kill whoever she wants. The problem is that Beverly doesn’t want it all. She doesn’t want to be a friend, daughter, or cheerleader anymore. She just wants to be a killer. And if she can get through just one more year of high school, then Beverly can leave home for good and stop pretending she’s anything but a butcher.
Anthony has nothing. He’s a loser. A nobody. But he’s got one more year to muster up the courage to tell Beverly that he loves her and he’s determined to do it before they graduate and she leaves his life forever.
After a senior year filled with drama, confessions, and decapitations, the clock finally runs out on graduation day. As the diplomas get handed out, the question still remains….
Will the geek get the girl?
Or will the girl slaughter everyone?
She’s beautiful, she’s popular, and she gets to kill whoever she wants. The problem is that Beverly doesn’t want it all. She doesn’t want to be a friend, daughter, or cheerleader anymore. She just wants to be a killer. And if she can get through just one more year of high school, then Beverly can leave home for good and stop pretending she’s anything but a butcher.
Anthony has nothing. He’s a loser. A nobody. But he’s got one more year to muster up the courage to tell Beverly that he loves her and he’s determined to do it before they graduate and she leaves his life forever.
After a senior year filled with drama, confessions, and decapitations, the clock finally runs out on graduation day. As the diplomas get handed out, the question still remains….
Will the geek get the girl?
Or will the girl slaughter everyone?
- GenresHorror
258 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2014
3 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 28, 2019
"The most dangerous creatures don't want to be noticed."
Beverly Kills has such a fun concept - it's about a serial killer who is also a high school senior and cheerleader. I love slasher stories, so I was really excited about this one. It's amusing and cheesy in the best way (for most of the book). For example, there are two rival high schools called Robert Englund Memorial & John Carpenter High School.
The book ends up going in a direction I wasn't a huge fan of. It does make sense with the story & the way that Beverly behaves, but I could have done without it. She decides to commit a hate crime (any hate crime is apparently sufficient), and it just felt like a weird choice. On one hand, I had started to sort of root for Beverly, and that made me stop - so maybe that was the point. On the other hand, it just felt so over-the-top after the rest of the book had not been that extreme. I didn't like it, and it sort of soured me on the rest of the book. That being said, I did speak to other people who said it fit in with the story & character & that it wasn't totally off the wall, but I still feel like I need to mention it.
The book had some editing issues, and it was distracting after a while. Sometimes I don't even really notice it, but this was at the point where it was pulling me out of the story.
One other thing I didn't love was that Beverly's lifestyle was never really threatened - outside of threats from herself. She didn't have to worry about cops, and it seemed unrealistic that nobody would really notice or care that this many people went missing. Everything was too simple. I wasn't a huge fan of the way the story wrapped up, and I'm not sure if it's meant to carry on into a second book or not.
Although I loved some aspects of this book, and I enjoyed a majority of the story, there were just too many things I couldn't get behind. I think it was a really promising and fun idea, but I didn't really work for me in the end. Thank you to the author for sending me a copy to review.
Beverly Kills has such a fun concept - it's about a serial killer who is also a high school senior and cheerleader. I love slasher stories, so I was really excited about this one. It's amusing and cheesy in the best way (for most of the book). For example, there are two rival high schools called Robert Englund Memorial & John Carpenter High School.
The book ends up going in a direction I wasn't a huge fan of. It does make sense with the story & the way that Beverly behaves, but I could have done without it. She decides to commit a hate crime (any hate crime is apparently sufficient), and it just felt like a weird choice. On one hand, I had started to sort of root for Beverly, and that made me stop - so maybe that was the point. On the other hand, it just felt so over-the-top after the rest of the book had not been that extreme. I didn't like it, and it sort of soured me on the rest of the book. That being said, I did speak to other people who said it fit in with the story & character & that it wasn't totally off the wall, but I still feel like I need to mention it.
The book had some editing issues, and it was distracting after a while. Sometimes I don't even really notice it, but this was at the point where it was pulling me out of the story.
One other thing I didn't love was that Beverly's lifestyle was never really threatened - outside of threats from herself. She didn't have to worry about cops, and it seemed unrealistic that nobody would really notice or care that this many people went missing. Everything was too simple. I wasn't a huge fan of the way the story wrapped up, and I'm not sure if it's meant to carry on into a second book or not.
Although I loved some aspects of this book, and I enjoyed a majority of the story, there were just too many things I couldn't get behind. I think it was a really promising and fun idea, but I didn't really work for me in the end. Thank you to the author for sending me a copy to review.
July 25, 2025
(3.5 rounded up)
This one was a good slasher book. The premise? Killer…literally (please laugh at this horrible attempt at a joke).
Beverly is a high school senior cheerleader who moonlights as a serial killer? I mean, how could I not be curious? And the book does deliver on the slasher elements. There’s blood, brutality, and some over-the-top kills that remind me of 80’s horror films.
I enjoyed Beverly’s character; she’s got all the qualities and a good background story of a great final girl turned slasher queen. There were moments where I felt the “teen girl” perspective veered more into caricature territory than character. It’s meant to be a dark comedy with campy vibes, but sometimes it tries too hard; I do think this depends on your love for these types of slashers. Additionally, I can see why some might have mixed feelings with the ending.
That said, it was fun. Fast-paced. Gory. Beverly is memorable and a great/horrible red flag.
This one was a good slasher book. The premise? Killer…literally (please laugh at this horrible attempt at a joke).
Beverly is a high school senior cheerleader who moonlights as a serial killer? I mean, how could I not be curious? And the book does deliver on the slasher elements. There’s blood, brutality, and some over-the-top kills that remind me of 80’s horror films.
I enjoyed Beverly’s character; she’s got all the qualities and a good background story of a great final girl turned slasher queen. There were moments where I felt the “teen girl” perspective veered more into caricature territory than character. It’s meant to be a dark comedy with campy vibes, but sometimes it tries too hard; I do think this depends on your love for these types of slashers. Additionally, I can see why some might have mixed feelings with the ending.
That said, it was fun. Fast-paced. Gory. Beverly is memorable and a great/horrible red flag.
November 27, 2023
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? 🤔 I’m not sure Beverley Killbourne and her friends got this memo! Senior year and everyone is deciding what they want to do after high school. Everyone except Beverley, she already knows what she wants to be………….. she wants to be a killer! This is a great coming of age crazy slasher, the question is how far will Beverley go? Who lives, who dies? I’m gonna say some of them surprised me!
June 14, 2015
This was a very good crazy creepy but believable book. I would definitely recommend this to others!
March 20, 2020
Beverly Kills by Sean McDonough starts out delightfully wicked and brash, with subject matter and language sure to offend general readers. This is extreme horror at its finest: edgy content, graphic violence and language, strong storyline, and excellent characters.
The story is told in alternating first person (Beverly and Anthony) with omniscient interludes spaced out to denote time passage/scenario change. Sounds complicated, but it is done with expert skill and flows remarkably well, much like a movie. This is not surprising if you take time to read the Author’s Note at the beginning and see it was originally a screen play.
I read this book over a 24-hour period. It is hard to put down. The story is continually building—building toward something, something you cannot guess at, as the story continues to grow and change. The suspense is unnerving and very compelling. But let us be clear, disturbing, graphic violence and har subject matter is consistent from start to finish.
As always, I am floored by McDonough’s colorful and realistic characters and vivid characterization. The depth he inserts into his extreme horror is truly amazing. This is a fantastic story with a good pace. And do take a moment to appreciate that gruesome cover art! It is quite fitting.
This is a shelf-worthy extreme horror book I am happy to have shelved in the Templum Library.
The story is told in alternating first person (Beverly and Anthony) with omniscient interludes spaced out to denote time passage/scenario change. Sounds complicated, but it is done with expert skill and flows remarkably well, much like a movie. This is not surprising if you take time to read the Author’s Note at the beginning and see it was originally a screen play.
I read this book over a 24-hour period. It is hard to put down. The story is continually building—building toward something, something you cannot guess at, as the story continues to grow and change. The suspense is unnerving and very compelling. But let us be clear, disturbing, graphic violence and har subject matter is consistent from start to finish.
As always, I am floored by McDonough’s colorful and realistic characters and vivid characterization. The depth he inserts into his extreme horror is truly amazing. This is a fantastic story with a good pace. And do take a moment to appreciate that gruesome cover art! It is quite fitting.
This is a shelf-worthy extreme horror book I am happy to have shelved in the Templum Library.
January 9, 2023
Beverly is the girl everyone in high school adores. She’s beautiful, popular, and seems to have a lot going for her, but Beverly has secrets. Lots of them and they are very dark. If anyone ever found out who the real Beverly was, her life would be over.
Like so many getting ready to finish high school, Beverly had hopes and dreams. A vision for her future, but it didn’t really involve college. Nope. What she wanted out of life was much darker. When Anthony enters the picture, I thought maybe Beverly wasn’t as hard core as she puts on. I couldn’t have been more wrong. That girl is savage, and the author really makes that crystal clear toward the end of the book. I had to re-read some paragraphs because I was caught off guard by what was happening. No mercy, no remorse, and no regrets.
If you enjoy slashers, give this one a read. The body count is insane and Beverly, well, she’s crazy.
Like so many getting ready to finish high school, Beverly had hopes and dreams. A vision for her future, but it didn’t really involve college. Nope. What she wanted out of life was much darker. When Anthony enters the picture, I thought maybe Beverly wasn’t as hard core as she puts on. I couldn’t have been more wrong. That girl is savage, and the author really makes that crystal clear toward the end of the book. I had to re-read some paragraphs because I was caught off guard by what was happening. No mercy, no remorse, and no regrets.
If you enjoy slashers, give this one a read. The body count is insane and Beverly, well, she’s crazy.
October 6, 2020
This is a fun read for any horror fan. I loved all the little nods/Easter eggs scattered throughout. It's the classic boy meets serial killer story that everyone needs in their life.
February 7, 2015
Written by S.T. King
I've covered the room in plastic-wrap. I’m wearing a double layer of thick nitrite gloves and an improvised suit of heavy-duty trash-bags and duct-tape. Today I've chosen a ceramic chef’s knife that came as a gift with a portable rotisserie. I had my doubts but the full tang felt magical in my hands.
I've a book to review today, reader; and I have to be transparent about something. I enjoy the intimacy of connecting you with what I've read. I like to allow the characters to speak for themselves, or show themselves in their natural glory. There’s a method to my madness, reader. Come along, I've something for you.
Here is Beverly Kilbourne, the anti-heroine of Sean McDonough’s debut novel, Beverly Kills, lying naked on an oak-table. She’s staring at the ceiling. She’s held down by one-hundred gage polyolefin shrink-wrap. Her eyes are so perfect: such shiny orbs of piercing azure, such calculated and sustained giddiness in those mounds of clear glass.
To kill or not to kill.
“How do I feel about you, Beverly?” About your account? About your adventure through drunken parties, high-school plays and graduation? About the nature of your dilemma? If you should run away invested in killing, leaving all the love you've ever known behind?
“Or not?
“I’m not sure about that, yet, Beverly. Though in the time I've spent with you here, there are some things I've learned to like about you and your story:
“One, despite your cover, that I don’t particularly care for, and the violence that fills your pages with copious amounts of blood, and the bland and cheesy allusions (Beverly Kilbourne likes to KILL – and where does she live? Damn sure not the Jersey Shore, I tell ya that) – you know how to make me laugh: because you understand what makes a good nobody. And you don’t seem to take yourself too seriously, do you?
“I suppose that solidifies your first weakness, though: your lack of memorable and relatable characters. The exception is Curtis, of course. He was a riot. It’s a shame he didn't play a bigger role in this gore-fest.
“And, speaking of gore-fest, you sure like to kill don’t you Beverly? Ever since you were young it’s been a compulsion with very little reason. It eats at you and makes you restless, makes you hot in your school-colored skivvies.”
She had something to say about that apparently…
I was a killer. I loved doing it and I was good at it. All
I wanted was to keep doing it and keep getting better at
it.
Excerpt from Beverly Kills by Sean McDonough.
“Yes, we've established that, Beverly.
“And to your merit, your story, in spite of its simplistic, surface-level nature, managed to offer many pleasant and macabre surprises as it lingered on. It was like a straightaway of a hairpin turn, sending me hurtling down the torn pavement, keeping the secret as to what waited on the other side: will you twist me around for another turn or descend deeper down the steep mountain-side? You were so cliche yet you compelled me to move forward, Beverly.”
I clapped my hands.
One, two, three.
“You know what hurts me about this, Beverly? About reading your twisted story: about watching you balance killing hipsters with finishing your homework in calculus?
“The implications.
“The missed opportunities, Beverly. Surely there’s more of a reason for you to be this fucked up, isn't there?
“How did you manage to get so goddamn good at killing anyway, Beverly? Don’t you think it’d be more interesting if you had a slip-up, or even two? As much sex as you've had in Beverly Hills, surely you've experience a scare before: even if only because you stopped feeling the security of the condom.
“I like you, Beverly. I just wish there was more to you.
“I wish your experiences sounded less like an autopsy report. You don’t have to spell it out for me, Beverly: that you've shoved something sharp into my esophagus. Give me enough and I can feel that out myself. It’s called subtlety.
“Strangely enough, Beverly, I've thoroughly enjoyed reading about you. If I hadn't been exposed to splatterpunk before I might have enjoyed this even more; there’s something tangible about this story: something that sticks in your teeth like buttery popcorn.
“Yes, popcorn; you’d make a good snack, Beverly.”
If you liked this review, check me out on Horror Novel Reviews.
http://horrornovelreviews.com/hnr-con...
I've covered the room in plastic-wrap. I’m wearing a double layer of thick nitrite gloves and an improvised suit of heavy-duty trash-bags and duct-tape. Today I've chosen a ceramic chef’s knife that came as a gift with a portable rotisserie. I had my doubts but the full tang felt magical in my hands.
I've a book to review today, reader; and I have to be transparent about something. I enjoy the intimacy of connecting you with what I've read. I like to allow the characters to speak for themselves, or show themselves in their natural glory. There’s a method to my madness, reader. Come along, I've something for you.
Here is Beverly Kilbourne, the anti-heroine of Sean McDonough’s debut novel, Beverly Kills, lying naked on an oak-table. She’s staring at the ceiling. She’s held down by one-hundred gage polyolefin shrink-wrap. Her eyes are so perfect: such shiny orbs of piercing azure, such calculated and sustained giddiness in those mounds of clear glass.
To kill or not to kill.
“How do I feel about you, Beverly?” About your account? About your adventure through drunken parties, high-school plays and graduation? About the nature of your dilemma? If you should run away invested in killing, leaving all the love you've ever known behind?
“Or not?
“I’m not sure about that, yet, Beverly. Though in the time I've spent with you here, there are some things I've learned to like about you and your story:
“One, despite your cover, that I don’t particularly care for, and the violence that fills your pages with copious amounts of blood, and the bland and cheesy allusions (Beverly Kilbourne likes to KILL – and where does she live? Damn sure not the Jersey Shore, I tell ya that) – you know how to make me laugh: because you understand what makes a good nobody. And you don’t seem to take yourself too seriously, do you?
“I suppose that solidifies your first weakness, though: your lack of memorable and relatable characters. The exception is Curtis, of course. He was a riot. It’s a shame he didn't play a bigger role in this gore-fest.
“And, speaking of gore-fest, you sure like to kill don’t you Beverly? Ever since you were young it’s been a compulsion with very little reason. It eats at you and makes you restless, makes you hot in your school-colored skivvies.”
She had something to say about that apparently…
I was a killer. I loved doing it and I was good at it. All
I wanted was to keep doing it and keep getting better at
it.
Excerpt from Beverly Kills by Sean McDonough.
“Yes, we've established that, Beverly.
“And to your merit, your story, in spite of its simplistic, surface-level nature, managed to offer many pleasant and macabre surprises as it lingered on. It was like a straightaway of a hairpin turn, sending me hurtling down the torn pavement, keeping the secret as to what waited on the other side: will you twist me around for another turn or descend deeper down the steep mountain-side? You were so cliche yet you compelled me to move forward, Beverly.”
I clapped my hands.
One, two, three.
“You know what hurts me about this, Beverly? About reading your twisted story: about watching you balance killing hipsters with finishing your homework in calculus?
“The implications.
“The missed opportunities, Beverly. Surely there’s more of a reason for you to be this fucked up, isn't there?
“How did you manage to get so goddamn good at killing anyway, Beverly? Don’t you think it’d be more interesting if you had a slip-up, or even two? As much sex as you've had in Beverly Hills, surely you've experience a scare before: even if only because you stopped feeling the security of the condom.
“I like you, Beverly. I just wish there was more to you.
“I wish your experiences sounded less like an autopsy report. You don’t have to spell it out for me, Beverly: that you've shoved something sharp into my esophagus. Give me enough and I can feel that out myself. It’s called subtlety.
“Strangely enough, Beverly, I've thoroughly enjoyed reading about you. If I hadn't been exposed to splatterpunk before I might have enjoyed this even more; there’s something tangible about this story: something that sticks in your teeth like buttery popcorn.
“Yes, popcorn; you’d make a good snack, Beverly.”
If you liked this review, check me out on Horror Novel Reviews.
http://horrornovelreviews.com/hnr-con...
January 7, 2015
The challenge with your main character being a murdering psychopath is all about giving your audience a reason to want to be in their head for a couple hundred pages without slitting their wrists. You can do that by creating a small shelf of understanding for their throat-slitting tendencies, as in the case of the criminal-targeting Dexter. Or by telling a sympathetic backstory, filled with the kind of traumatic abuse that shapes the very worst among us, such as *insert horror movie franchise villain here.* In Beverly Kills, however, we get a straight-up serial killer worthy of American Psycho without any shading or excuses.
Read the rest of my review at Fanboy Comics.
Read the rest of my review at Fanboy Comics.
July 26, 2022
Beverly is everything to everyone. To the girls, she's the head cheerleader, damn near the top of her class, popular, and gorgeous. To the guys, she has a killer rack, great legs, and blonde hair. Everyone either wants to be Beverly or fuck her. However, unbeknownst to everyone, Beverly has a little secret—she loves killing people on the side. To her, watching someone's life slowly leave their eyes is better than any orgasm. And, once she graduates high school, she is excited to finally have the freedom to explore being a full-blown killer. She will be done with quickies in the parking lot during parties, missing curfew because someone took longer to kill. She can finally be what she truly wants—the hunter. Unfortunately, she just has to deal with those pesky things called attachments—family, friends, expectations . . .
On the outside, Beverly seems like the average high school princess. She's a blonde bombshell, her family is rich, she is the head cheerleader, and she has been picked to be the valedictorian. On the inside, she is struggling with her internal desires. Since a young age, Beverly has known that killing people is the only thing that has given her any meaning. Unfortunately, it is hard to balance being a daughter and friend with the need to kill. And, during her senior year, it only gets worse.
On the outside, Beverly seems like the average high school princess. She's a blonde bombshell, her family is rich, she is the head cheerleader, and she has been picked to be the valedictorian. On the inside, she is struggling with her internal desires. Since a young age, Beverly has known that killing people is the only thing that has given her any meaning. Unfortunately, it is hard to balance being a daughter and friend with the need to kill. And, during her senior year, it only gets worse.
Based on the author introduction, I expected this book to be a campy comedic slasher. In some ways, I was not disappointed. The book is a slasher, and it does not lack on brutality. Unfortunately, it was too cliche to be campy and funny. It felt like the author was trying to develop Beverly—especially during her little game show asides—but it completely fell short. All of the characters were flat. The author tried to garner some sympathy through Anthony and Curtis, but, again, it felt forced.
I enjoyed how the book played with stereotypes, which is what ultimately caused Beverly's inner turmoil. In addition, some of the kills were over-the-top and awesome. Sadly, even though I wanted to love this book, it kind of fell flat for me. It was a good mind-numbing, beach read; however, after coming off the high of Home Before Dark, I wanted something with a bit more oomph.
If you're looking for a campy beach read, this book should definitely make the list! Watch out, there are typos, but it's nothing egregious.
August 19, 2019
This was my second book from Sean McDonough. When I first started, and realized that a grown man was writing from the point of view of a 17 year old girl, I have to admit I had my doubts. But Sean pulls it off perfectly. This has been one of the most intriguing insights into a deranged mind I have ever read.
The story follows Beverly Killbourne as she struggles to balance life as a high school senior with her inner desire to kill. There are some wonderfully brutal kill scenes to be had. Despite the brutality, the slasher goodness is not truly the focus of this book. The real story is the struggle between external expectations and internal desires. How do you stay true to who you are when there are so many people pushing and pulling you in their own direction? Beverly must come to terms with her uncertain future, amongst friends and family who seemingly have it all figured out.
On the subject of friends and family, McDonough showcases once again his amazing ability to build characters and relationships that the reader truly cares about. If he hadn’t so skillfully crafted these characters, I doubt the book would have been nearly as impactful.
It is the real and relatable struggle that Beverly goes through, combined with that cast of characters that brings this up a notch from simply a fun slasher. Thought provoking and page turning, this book will have you smiling, rooting and reading until you’ve reached the bitter end.
The story follows Beverly Killbourne as she struggles to balance life as a high school senior with her inner desire to kill. There are some wonderfully brutal kill scenes to be had. Despite the brutality, the slasher goodness is not truly the focus of this book. The real story is the struggle between external expectations and internal desires. How do you stay true to who you are when there are so many people pushing and pulling you in their own direction? Beverly must come to terms with her uncertain future, amongst friends and family who seemingly have it all figured out.
On the subject of friends and family, McDonough showcases once again his amazing ability to build characters and relationships that the reader truly cares about. If he hadn’t so skillfully crafted these characters, I doubt the book would have been nearly as impactful.
It is the real and relatable struggle that Beverly goes through, combined with that cast of characters that brings this up a notch from simply a fun slasher. Thought provoking and page turning, this book will have you smiling, rooting and reading until you’ve reached the bitter end.
December 13, 2023
What a ride! BEVERLY KILLS gave me "Dexter meets Heathers" in both its premise (a character who has an insatiable, unexplained, natural need to kill) and its tone, characters, and plot (an edgy, pitch-black comedy with lots of deaths and inappropriate humor). It was just what I needed at this moment, too. There's a high body count so fans of slashers will definitely be satisfied, and a few of the kill scenes had me squirming. Loved the friendship, dialogue, and even the romance that starts around halfway or so. There are so many homages and Easter eggs to 80s movies and other horror slashers that fans of the genre will definitely pick up on while reading. Can't wait to pick up the sequel next, BEVERLY KILLS AGAIN!
November 27, 2023
This read quickly but was very meh. Beverly is a beautiful teenage cheerleader with insufferable friends and that ends up dating the most unlikely boy! All of the 90s after school tropes are here. Everything was predictable and you get a bonus story after Beverly and it’s about…nothing pertaining to Beverly. That story was also painfully predictable.
January 10, 2023
I think I enjoyed this story. LoL. I didn't like Beverly at all. But I hope she shows up in the future because I need to know the rest. Really enjoying this author!
February 5, 2024
Not your average slasher book. Loved it!
August 22, 2021
Great story was expecting this to just be a slasher novel. It goes a lot deeper the character development is wonderful. It has humor, gore, and sex. I hope there will be a sequel.
May 3, 2023
The premise on this was interesting but the execution needed work. Beverly is a 17 year old serial killer, not to mention a popular cheerleader. This is a slasher and instantly reminds me of a B horror film. The book is a bit over the top with the ability of Beverly to get away with every murder (especially considering her Dads a cop). There isn’t even any suspense of “she almost got caught” but here’s how she got out of it.
Beverly also reads like a very unrealistic female character and you can only hear about her body being described as perfect, hot and sexy so many times before it’s to much. The ending is what I really didn’t enjoy. It seemed disjointed from what would be expected of Beverly’s character and not to mention unrealistic. It felt like it went from a B slasher in that moment to a low budget thriller.
This could be great with some tweaking, and I do want to thank Sean for the review copy! I know this was his first novel so I’m curious to read his newer work and see how his writing has improved.
Beverly also reads like a very unrealistic female character and you can only hear about her body being described as perfect, hot and sexy so many times before it’s to much. The ending is what I really didn’t enjoy. It seemed disjointed from what would be expected of Beverly’s character and not to mention unrealistic. It felt like it went from a B slasher in that moment to a low budget thriller.
This could be great with some tweaking, and I do want to thank Sean for the review copy! I know this was his first novel so I’m curious to read his newer work and see how his writing has improved.
February 2, 2021
Nobody expects the hot blonde, cheer captain, straight A student to be a killer. This was extremely well written. The characterization was amazing. And all the gory kills fit the story perfectly.
January 5, 2024
"When it came to murder, I was totally bi-merciless."
I KNOW I shouldn't love Beverly, but damnit I can't help it!!! This book is fantastic.
Beverly Kills is told from the perspective of the Killer, which I personally love this way of storytelling. It's like Dexter, except a chick, and she will kill anyone. And Beverly's character is just so damn snarky. How could you not love her?!
A decent amount of blood and gore meld together with humor and splashes of romance to create one hell of a tale! It's definitely one worth reading!
I KNOW I shouldn't love Beverly, but damnit I can't help it!!! This book is fantastic.
Beverly Kills is told from the perspective of the Killer, which I personally love this way of storytelling. It's like Dexter, except a chick, and she will kill anyone. And Beverly's character is just so damn snarky. How could you not love her?!
A decent amount of blood and gore meld together with humor and splashes of romance to create one hell of a tale! It's definitely one worth reading!
March 20, 2025
⭐️3.5 stars⭐️
This book is a homage to horror royalty (Carpenter and Englund) as well as John Hughes. And I love books that honor the greats but at times it did feel a little try hard.
Also, the fact that this is very obviously a book about teenage girls written by a man. That's not meaning that he's disrespectful or gross in the writing. But if you're a female, you'll know what I mean. It's usually very obvious when a story from a female perspective is written by a man.
With that being said I did enjoy this storyline and I will read the next book. I am very interested to see where beverly ends up. This very much has that 90s/00s horror vibe. Also felt like it was a more adult fear street book which I really enjoyed!
The bonus story: Don't feed the animals- ⭐️4 stars⭐️ This is a cryptid/creature feature and I very much enjoyed it! It was quick, and it had an adult goosebumps feel that I always crave!
This book is a homage to horror royalty (Carpenter and Englund) as well as John Hughes. And I love books that honor the greats but at times it did feel a little try hard.
Also, the fact that this is very obviously a book about teenage girls written by a man. That's not meaning that he's disrespectful or gross in the writing. But if you're a female, you'll know what I mean. It's usually very obvious when a story from a female perspective is written by a man.
With that being said I did enjoy this storyline and I will read the next book. I am very interested to see where beverly ends up. This very much has that 90s/00s horror vibe. Also felt like it was a more adult fear street book which I really enjoyed!
The bonus story: Don't feed the animals- ⭐️4 stars⭐️ This is a cryptid/creature feature and I very much enjoyed it! It was quick, and it had an adult goosebumps feel that I always crave!
September 3, 2018
Oh Beverly where do I even begin? I don’t want to give anything away about this book, it’s best to go in just knowing Beverly has one love in life and it’s very very bloody! I enjoyed this book so much! It’s fast paced action but also has great character and story development. I appreciated the nods to classic horror and the little “extras” the author threw in (you’ll understand when you read it). Definitely not one to be missed!
February 23, 2023
Such a fun and crazy read.
May 18, 2024
4.5/5⭐️
Firstly, if you haven’t interacted with Sean I highly recommend it. He’s a good dude. Secondly, this book was awesome!!!!
I felt like it was Mean Girls mixed with a Dexter type of insight into the mind of a psychopath sprinkle a little bit of Superbad high-school elements with a garnish of Amma from Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. All of those references are meant as compliments to this book. If you hate any of those things you would still like this book. They just kept popping in my head while reading. We also get some nods to big names in the world of Horror movies that I felt was just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek.
As cliche as it might sound this book made me laugh, made me scared and unsettled, made me nostalgic, and also reminded me how fascinating the view inside of a deranged mind is. I’ve always been drawn to true crime and learning about serial killers. The way this book shows the inner turmoil for our baddy is very well done. The interlude with a man carving a pumpkin almost made me cry(wtf?). What I’m getting at is that a horror novel that is just scary or unsettling is great, but one that can nail the awful stuff but also give a great snapshot of realistic human interaction will stick with me.
It’s bloody and brutal. This book really lulled me into a place where I almost forgot I was reading a slasher. Then it punched me right in the stomach.
I’m very glad I ordered more than one of Sean’s books with this one.
Recommended if you like: ‘Mean Girls’ with a mean girl, a glimpse inside the monster’s mind, highschool comedy, slashers, inventive murders, scary blondes.
September 29, 2023
A look at the number of reviews of Beverly Kills reveals something that plagues so much of the indie horror fiction scene - absolutely outstanding books that exist below the radar of the average reader. Beverly's senior year is one filled with self-discovery. All of a sudden, she doesn't have all the answers she once thought she did. Bodies are piling up, but an unexpected shift in her lovelife throws a wrench in her plans. What's next? It's senior year. That means college applications, parties, prom, graduation, and an endless plethora of memories. Beverly finds her plans for graduation have changed. What now? What now that she finds she actually has feelings she didn't even think she had. Yet, she knows the truth. Deep down. It's inescapable. What lengths will she go to ensure the happiness of whom she knows as her true self? Life isn't so clear-cut as we want it to be, is it?
This book should be made into a movie. It has everything it needs to be a hit slasher. Where you at, movie makers?
This book should be made into a movie. It has everything it needs to be a hit slasher. Where you at, movie makers?
January 2, 2024
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝.
Beverly Kilbourne has just entered her senior year of high school, and if she were a Swiftie, she would be in her killing era. This girl, while a beautiful, popular cheerleader, only feels alive when she's taking the life of another. The black humor reminded me of the classic movie Serial Mom as Beverly navigates her life with ease. This is a girl who knows what she wants; that is, until Anthony comes along. They have had lockers side by side for the last three years, and Anthony is dying to tell Beverly that he loves her.
Will this high school nobody soften Beverly's rough edges, or will she go on a killing spree that will make headlines? When I got to the end, I had to re-read a few parts several times to make sure what I thought happened actually happened. I'm so glad I have the sequel so I can pick up on Beverly's bloody trail to see what happens next!
Beverly Kilbourne has just entered her senior year of high school, and if she were a Swiftie, she would be in her killing era. This girl, while a beautiful, popular cheerleader, only feels alive when she's taking the life of another. The black humor reminded me of the classic movie Serial Mom as Beverly navigates her life with ease. This is a girl who knows what she wants; that is, until Anthony comes along. They have had lockers side by side for the last three years, and Anthony is dying to tell Beverly that he loves her.
Will this high school nobody soften Beverly's rough edges, or will she go on a killing spree that will make headlines? When I got to the end, I had to re-read a few parts several times to make sure what I thought happened actually happened. I'm so glad I have the sequel so I can pick up on Beverly's bloody trail to see what happens next!
March 14, 2024
Beverly Kills is a wonderful character exploration within the slasher horror subgenre. Beverly plays much like a Dexter within her LA high school but without the vigilante mission. What is most interesting is how the story plays with this idea of how we see ourselves, particularly when that view is challenged. For Beverly, the view of herself as void of feeling for others and driven by a primal instinct, that self-view becomes at risk when she identifies feelings of love which then causes her to re-evaluate her overall perspective of all her relationships. It also presents the idea of how love and relationships can cause or projected path to be in question at times and the unpredictability of it all. Will she follow love and alter her path or will she reject it and continue her path of darkness? A must read!
January 11, 2024
I wasn't feeling this one for the first third-ish of it. (First sitting.) But I read The Thirteen Black Cats Of Edith Penn and absolutely loved it so I knew there must be more.
And Sean delivered.
It just got better and better and better until I had to force myself to put it down to go to sleep. (Second sitting.)
And it all came together perfectly in the end.
Except for one thing. And I won't say which part that is because it would be a spoiler. That's wrong. It DID come together but it was just so MEAN.
So now I love Beverly.
(Except I can't get that goddamn song out of my head. 😒)
The short story at the end was wonderful also!
And Sean delivered.
It just got better and better and better until I had to force myself to put it down to go to sleep. (Second sitting.)
And it all came together perfectly in the end.
Except for one thing. And I won't say which part that is because it would be a spoiler. That's wrong. It DID come together but it was just so MEAN.
So now I love Beverly.
(Except I can't get that goddamn song out of my head. 😒)
The short story at the end was wonderful also!
July 9, 2024
Typically, we don’t find ourselves rooting for the “villain.” But in Beverly, author Sean McDonough gives us a sympathetic one. At times you’ll want her to get caught. Other times, you’ll want her to get away. You may even find yourself hoping for a character redemption. This book explores the classic dilemma that we all face: do I pursue what makes me happy? Or do I choose a different route that will make others happy? Where do I belong? In that respect, Beverly is just like us. It’s her passion for bloodshed that sets her apart. Beverly Kills is an 80s slasher flick in book form, complete with all of the teenage stereotypes. It’s also a quick read. I look forward to reading the sequel.
August 6, 2024
I wish I would have read Beverly Kills by Sean McDonough sooner. Beverly’s senior year is full of extracurricular activities: cheerleading, theater, and…killing. I was worried that it was going to be too young adult for me- but it was the opposite. It was sexy, gory, and humorous, and everything I love in a slasher.
I consumed this book within 24 hours. The characters were fun and the story was well written. It did end with a sort of cliffhanger, but luckily I don’t have to wait for the sequel. I’ll be bumping Beverly Kills Again closer to the top of my TBR list as well as checking out more of McDonough’s other works.
I consumed this book within 24 hours. The characters were fun and the story was well written. It did end with a sort of cliffhanger, but luckily I don’t have to wait for the sequel. I’ll be bumping Beverly Kills Again closer to the top of my TBR list as well as checking out more of McDonough’s other works.
July 6, 2018
I had so much fun reading this book! It was all kinds of gory, slasher awesomeness!
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